Sister Havana

Mike will be on Dancing with the Stars this season.

Oooh, I didn’t know the whole season is on YouTube!

They added the confessional room starting with LA. As far as group confessional sessions, I’m pretty sure Flora and Melissa did one together in Miami, and in the first New Orleans season, Julie and Melissa’s confessional the morning after Mardi Gras (I think) where Melissa described being in bed with a Mormon on one side of her and a naked gay man on the other was a classic.

I would totally watch that. Their friendship was one of my favorite things about their original season and it continues to be one of my favorite things. The Color Factory looks like so much fun! I want to go there sometime.

Eric has at least one child, and I think there was a mention that Heather has a child too. This episode felt like a big warm hug to me. I'm so looking forward to the rest of the episodes!

I am ridiculously excited about this. (And I did sign up for Paramount Plus just to watch this.) One thing I didn’t know until now is that Eric wasn’t able to go into the loft, even though he was in town. I wonder why. (Apparently we’ll find out on the show.)

This was one of my all-time favorites, and one of the few times I thought having troupe members in the background was absolutely appropriate for the (non-freestyle) routine. I was reminded again how much I enjoy watching Derek dance, and I loved his nod to Fred Astaire’s hat rack dance from Royal Wedding. I also hope he returns as a judge next season- he gave very specific, constructive critiques. Not terribly surprised Kaitlyn won, but she was my least favorite of the four finalists. I did like her freestyle. Nev was robbed!

I would rather have had Johnny in the finals over Kaitlyn. She's a good dancer, but something about her just leaves me cold. I can't explain it. I loved Johnny and Britt's partnership and I just enjoy Johnny in general. I would be fine with any of the other 3 winning. (I didn't pick any of them to win or even get to the finals when the cast was announced - go figure!) I didn't realize Nev would be as good as he is, and he's been consistently so. Nelly has visibly improved during the season, he works hard and he's taking it seriously, not just coasting along knowing the size of his fan b

I agree that Popcorn is Taylor Dayne. The hair crimper clinched it for me.

I’m wondering if the stylists hate Tyra. She’s a beautiful woman with an amazing body, but that dress was just super unflattering. (And if that dress is so unflattering on her, who the heck would it flatter? Yikes.) I would think that Tyra would have final approval on her wardrobe, though.

I was getting an Alfonso Ribeiro vibe from Baby Alien. Some of the clues seem to fit: he starred in The Tap Dance Kid on Broadway and performed with the rest of the cast at the 1984 Tony Awards. (Alfonso comes in about halfway through the number) Second gear could refer to playing sidekick roles: think Alfonso on Silver Spoons and Carlton on Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Pursuing other passions: he’s done lots of other things. Plus he can sing and I feel like he’s the type of person who would do the show.

The fake audience noise was way too loud. I was watching with my mom, and we could barely hear Tyra and some of the music over it. I’m glad they ditched the band, though. And I miss Tom and Erin! I thought AJ and Johnny were underscored. Nev was really good - I was not expecting that. I think Charles and Carole will be the first two out.

That sucks. Tom was one of the best things about the show! I like Erin too.

I would be SO UP FOR THIS. There are several people who’ve told him they’re interested whom I would love to see again: Ruthie! Dan from RR: Northern Trail! Eric Nies! Teck! Jamie from the first RW: New Orleans! All these people whom I haven’t see on my TV in forever.

MTV is going to show a mini-marathon of this season tomorrow, from 11am-2:30pm. They’re airing episodes 1-4 and 11-13, and the entire season is available to watch on the MTV website.